Role of the Scaffold Protein MIM in the Actin-Dependent Regulation of Epithelial Sodium Channels (ENaC).

Epithelial Sodium Channels (ENaCs) are expressed in different organs and tissues, particularly in the cortical collecting duct (CCD) in the kidney, where they fine tune sodium reabsorption. Dynamic rearrangements of the cytoskeleton are one of the common mechanisms of ENaC activity regulation. In our previous studies, we showed that the actin-binding proteins cortactin and Arp2/3 complex are involved in the cytoskeleton-dependent regulation of ENaC and that their cooperative work decreases a channel's probability of remaining open; however, the specific mechanism of interaction between actin-binding proteins and ENaC is unclear. In this study, we propose a new component for the protein machinery involved in the regulation of ENaC, the missing-in-metastasis (MIM) protein. The MIM protein contains an IMD domain (for interaction with PIP2 -rich plasma membrane regions and Rac GTPases; this domain also possesses F-actin bundling activity), a PRD domain (for interaction with cortactin), and a WH2 domain (interaction with G-actin). The patch-clamp electrophysiological technique in whole-cell configuration was used to test the involvement of MIM in the actin-dependent regulation of ENaC. Co-transfection of ENaC subunits with the wild-type MIM protein (or its mutant forms) caused a significant reduction in ENaC-mediated integral ion currents. The analysis of the F-actin structure after the transfection of MIM plasmids showed the important role played by the domains PRD and WH2 of the MIM protein in cytoskeletal rearrangements. These results suggest that the MIM protein may be a part of the complex of actin-binding proteins which is responsible for the actin-dependent regulation of ENaC in the CCD.

Intracellular oxidation of hydroethidine: compartmentalization and cytotoxicity of oxidation products.

Hydroethidine (HE) is a blue fluorescent dye that is intracellularly converted into red-emitting products on two-electron oxidation. One of these products, namely 2-hydroxyethidium, is formed as the result of HE superoxide anion-specific oxidation, and so HE is widely used for the detection of superoxide in cells and tissues. In our experiments we exploited three cell lines of different origin: K562 (human leukemia cells), A431 (human epidermoid carcinoma cells), and SCE2304 (human mesenchymal stem cells derived from endometrium). Using fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry analysis, we showed that HE intracellular oxidation products accumulate mostly in the cell mitochondria. This accumulation provokes gradual depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, affects oxygen consumption rate in HE-treated cells, and causes cellular apoptosis in the case of high HE concentrations and/or long cell incubations with HE, as well as a high rate of HE oxidation in cells exposed to some stimuli.

Regulation of TRPC6 Channels by Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.

Family focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is characterized by sclerosis and hyalinosis of particular loops of glomeruli and is one of the causes of the nephrotic syndrome. Certain mutations in the structure of TRPC6 channels are the genetic impetus for FSGS development resulting in podocytes functional abnormalities and various nephropathies. We have recently demonstrated that non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) ibuprofen and diclofenac decrease the activity of endogenous TRPC like cal cium channels in the podocytes of the freshly isolated rat glomeruli. It has also been shown that TRPC6 chan nels are expressed in the podocytes. In the current study we have functionally reconstituted TRPC6 channels in mammalian cells to investigate the effects of diclofenac on the activity of wild type TRPC6 channel and TRPC6P112Q channel containing a mutation in the N-terminus that was described in FSGS patients. Intracellular calcium level measurements in transfected cells revealed a more intensive carbachol induced increase of calcium concentration in HEK 293 cells expressing TRPC6P112Q versus the cells expressing wild-type TRPC6. We also performed patch-clamp experiments to study TRPC6 channels reconstituted in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line and found that application of diclofenac (500 µM) acutely reduced single channel activity. Preincubation with diclofenac (100 µM) also decreased the whole cell current in CHO cells overexpressing TRPC6P112Q. Therefore, our previously published data on the effects of NSAID on TRPC-like channels in the isolated rat glomeruli, along with this current investigation on the cultured overexpressed mammalian cells, allows hypothesizing that TRPC6 channels may be a target for NSAID that can be impor tant in the treatment of FSGS.

Sodium channel activity in leukemia cells is directly controlled by actin polymerization.

The actin cytoskeleton has been shown to be involved in the regulation of sodium-selective channels in non-excitable cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the changes in channel function remain to be defined. In the present work, inside-out patch experiments were employed to elucidate the role of submembranous actin dynamics in the control of sodium channels in human myeloid leukemia K562 cells. We found that the application of cytochalasin D to the cytoplasmic surface of membrane fragments resulted in activation of non-voltage-gated sodium channels of 12 picosiemens conductance. Similar effects could be evoked by addition of the actin-severing protein gelsolin to the bath cytosol-like solution containing 1 microm [Ca(2+)](i). The sodium channel activity induced by disassembly of submembranous microfilaments with cytochalasin D or gelsolin could be abolished by intact actin added to the bath cytosol-like solution in the presence of 1 mm MgCl(2) to induce actin polymerization. In the absence of MgCl(2), addition of intact actin did not abolish the channel activity. Moreover, the sodium currents were unaffected by heat-inactivated actin or by actin whose polymerizability was strongly reduced by cleavage with specific Escherichia coli A2 protease ECP32. Thus, the inhibitory effect of actin on channel activity was observed only under conditions promoting rapid polymerization. Taken together, our data show that sodium channels are directly controlled by dynamic assembly and disassembly of submembranous F-actin.

Functional localization of single active ion channels on the surface of a living cell.

The spatial distribution of ion channels in the cell plasma membrane has an important role in governing regional specialization, providing a precise and localized control over cell function. We report here a novel technique based on scanning ion conductance microscopy that allows, for the first time, mapping of single active ion channels in intact cell plasma membranes. We have mapped the distribution of ATP-regulated K+ channels (KATP channels) in cardiac myocytes. The channels are organized in small groups and anchored in the Z-grooves of the sarcolemma. The distinct pattern of distribution of these channels may have important functional implications.

Block by extracellular Mg2+ of single human purinergic P2X4 receptor channels expressed in human embryonic kidney cells.

Single channel properties of human P2X4 receptors expressed in human embryonic kidney cells have been investigated by outside-out mode patch clamp recordings. P2X4 channel activity was characterized by very fast kinetics. The current-voltage relationship was strongly non-linear at potentials <-100 mV. A slope conductance of approximately 9 pS was estimated at the approximately linear part of the current-voltage relation (>-100 mV). External Mg2+ reversibly decreased the amplitude of ATP-evoked single channel currents in a concentration-dependent manner but independent of the membrane potential. Additionally, extracellular Mg2+ shortened the mean open time whereas the mean closed time was not affected. Thus, Mg2+ ions are proposed to inhibit the function of human P2X4 receptors by means of an open-channel block with a Mg2+ binding site at the exterior surface of the pore.

Ca-dependent regulation of Na+-selective channels via actin cytoskeleton modification in leukemia cells.

With the use of the patch-clamp technique, physiological mechanisms of Na+ channel regulation involving submembranous actin rearrangements were examined in human myeloid leukemia K562 cells. We found that the actin-severing protein gelsolin applied to cytoplasmic surface of membrane fragments at a high level of [Ca2+]i (1 microM) increased drastically the activity of Na-selective channels of 12 pS unitary conductance. In the experiments on intact cells, the elevation of [Ca2+]i using the ionophore 4Br-A23187 also resulted in Na+ channel activation. Addition of actin to the cytoplasmic surface of membrane patches reduced this activity to background level, likely due to actin polymerization. Our data imply that Ca-dependent modulations of the actin cytoskeleton may represent one of the general mechanisms of channel regulation and cell signalling.

Disruption of actin filaments increases the activity of sodium-conducting channels in human myeloid leukemia cells.

With the use of the patch clamp technique, the role of cytoskeleton in the regulation of ion channels in plasma membrane of leukemic K562 cells was examined. Single-channel measurements have indicated that disruption of actin filaments with cytochalasin D (CD) resulted in a considerable increase of the activity of non-voltage-gated sodium-permeable channels of 12 pS unitary conductance. Background activity of these channels was low; open probability (po) did not exceed 0.01-0.02. After CD, po grew at least 10-20 times. Cell-attached and whole-cell recordings showed that activation of sodium channels was elicited within 1-3 min after the addition of 10-20 micrograms/ml CD to the bath extracellular solution or in the presence of 5 micrograms/ml CD in the intracellular pipette solution. Preincubation of K562 cells with CD during 1 h also increased drastically the activity of 12 pS sodium channels. Whole-cell measurements confirmed that CD-activated channels were permeable to monovalent cations (preferentially to Na+ and Li+), but not to bivalent cations (Ca2+, Ba2+). Colchicine (1 microM), which affect microtubules, did not alter background channel activity. Our data indicate that actin filaments organization plays an important role in the regulation of sodium-permeable channels which may participate in providing passive Na+ influx in red blood cells.

Exogenous heat shock protein hsp70 activates potassium channels in U937 cells.

With the use of patch clamp technique, the effect of exogenous heat shock protein hsp70 on ion channel properties in the plasma membrane of human promonocyte U937 cells has been examined. Cell-attached experiments showed that the addition of 30-100 micrograms/ml hsp70 to the pipette solution resulted in an activation of outward currents through potassium-selective channels of 9 pS unitary conductance. The activity of K(+)-selective channels did not depend on membrane voltage and could be controlled by the intracellular free calcium concentration as revealed in inside-out recordings. K+ channels with similar conductance and kinetic behaviour were found in normal cell-attached patches very rarely. Outside-out experiments showed that the addition of hsp70 to the external solution induced a channel-like stepwise increase of inward current which may provide cation entry from the extracellular medium. The interaction of extracellular hsp70 with the membrane surface of the native cell and of the excised fragment was found to be different. The results suggest that hsp70-induced activation of Ca-dependent K channels in monocyte-macrophage cells may be due to a local increase of free Ca2+ concentration just near the inner membrane side.

Sodium-selective channels in membranes of rat macrophages.

With the use of the patch-clamp technique, highly selective nonvoltage-gated sodium channels were found in the membrane of rat peritoneal macrophages. The inward single channel currents were measured in cell-attached and outside-out mode experiments at different holding membrane potentials within the range of -60 to +40 mV. The channels had a unitary conductance of 10.2 +/- 0.2 pS with 145 mM Na+ in the external solution at 23-24 degrees C. The results of ion-substitution experiments confirmed that this novel type of cation channel in macrophages is characterized by high selectivity for Na+ over K+ (as for Cs+, NH4+, Ca2+, Ba2+) ions, whose conduction through these sodium-permeable channels was not measurable. Lithium is the only other ion that is transported by this pathway; the unitary conductance was equal to 3.9 +/- 0.2 pS in the Li(+)-containing external solution. Single channel currents and conductance were found to be linearly dependent on the external sodium concentration. Sodium channels in macrophage membrane patches were not blocked by tetrodotoxin (0.01-1 microM). Single sodium currents were reversibly inhibited by the external application of amiloride (0.1-2 mM) and its derivative ethylisopropilamiloride (0.01-0.1 mM). The mechanism of channel block by amiloride and its analogue seems to be different.

Evidence for existence of two acid groups controlling the conductance of sodium channel.

The inhibition of the sodium current in nodal membrane at low pH external solutions was studied under voltage clamp conditions. Analysis of the data for membrane potentials from +10 to +150 mV shows that the inhibition of the Na+ currents at high positive potentials cannot be described by a titration curve of a single acid group. The data can be explained on assumption that the conductance of each sodium channel is controlled by two acid groups: one is located within the pore, the other just near the outer mouth of the pore. The affinity of both groups for H+ is estimated.

The permeability of aconitine-modified sodium channels to univalent cations in myelinated nerve.

1. Ionic currents through the sodium system of nodes of Ranvier treated with aconitine were measured under voltage clamp conditions in a Ringer solution containing Na+ or an equimolar amount of various test cations. 2. Average shifts in reversal potentials in nodes of Ranvier treated with aconitine with NH4+, Li+, K+, Rb+, Cs+ in place of Na+ in the Ringer solution are 7.6, --6.8, --25.0, --41.0 and --51.5 mV at 13--14degrees C. At 20--22degrees C the sequence of shifts is 7.5, --5.5, --13.5, --29.0 and --41.0 mV. For Tl+ the the average reversal potential shift is +3 mV at 20--22degrees C. 3. The slope of the instantaneous current-voltage relation at the reversal potential in nodes treated with aconitine changed with the various cations tested. The ratios are NH4+/Na+/K+/Rb+/Cs+/Li+ = 1.14 : 1.0 : 0.80 :0.67 :0.53 : 0.53. 4. Using a three energy barrier model some of the parameters for the aconitine-modified Na+ channels were estimated (Chizmadgev, Yu. A., Khodorov, B.I. and Aityan, S.Kh. (1974) Bioelectrochem. Bioenerg. 1, 301--312).